Suggestions requested for making the forthcoming Advent and Christmas period more visible, in your face and even more joyful in the face of the evil w

[IanM]

Suggestions requested for making the forthcoming Advent and Christmas period more visible, in your face and even more joyful in the face of the evil we are all facing at the moment!

 

[CilladeRoma]

When as an “in your face” attitude helped with anything.

God gave us Jesus as a model. Not exactly sure when He was in anyone’s face, except maybe those who thought they were better than everyone else.

 

[Peeps]

When as an “in your face” attitude helped with anything.

God gave us Jesus as a model. Not exactly sure when He was in anyone’s face, except maybe those who thought they were better than everyone else.

I don’t think the OP meant this as a “bad” attitude.

I think they were just asking for suggstions of how can we keep the joy of the Advent and Christmas seasons with us constantly (in our faces) during a time when we are surrounded by fear, sickness, and death, and the stress of continuing to work (many of us) during this time.

Our Thanksgiving plans are all cancelled because on Saturday of this past weekend, my father-in-law had ominous symptoms (couldn’t get out of bed, high fever, body aches, and racking cough), and sure enough, after waiting in a hallway in wheelchair for over 10 hours at the Catholic hospital–Emergency Room was packed and there were no beds–he found out he was positive for COVID-19. They admitted him, but he had to be transported to another hospital about 60 miles away, as our Catholic hospital had no COVID beds left.

So all our plans are cancelled, and instead of being at work today–and we are dangerously short-staffed and I should be at work–I’m home waiting for a call from my hospital’s employee health department, and also waiting to see if my and my husband’s COVID tests are positive. (My husband has symptoms, I have no symptoms.)

I know many other families are in the same situation as we are. So I think it’s a great idea to have suggestions as to how we can celebrate Advent during these hard times.

During WWII, people had to come up with ways to celebrate Advent and Christmas, and honor the Lord Jesus during a time when many were grieving the loss of loved ones, fearful of attacks on our own soil, and weighed down with cares, shortages, blackouts, etc. It’s interesting to read accounts of what people did to keep up their courage and give their children a Merry Christmas in the midst of the dark times.

I hope that we get some good suggestions on this thread. I admit that just yesterday, I considered putting up very minimal decorations this year–not sure if that would be helpful or hurtful. I have beautiful Thanksgiving decorations, and so far, the only person other than me and my husband who have seen them are my brother who stopped by to drop off some gifts for us. It’s kind of sad.

 

[IanM]

When as an “in your face” attitude helped with anything.

God gave us Jesus as a model. Not exactly sure when He was in anyone’s face, except maybe those who thought they were better than everyone else.

When he said:

" As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give."

Mathew 10 7-9

 

[IanM]

I was thinking more of loudly singing carols in the street and even louder in church, plus making very visible Nativity Scenes in front windows and gardens personally. You know really proclaiming my faith!